Tag: MOAH

Brooks Salzwedel’s exhibition “Rut in the Soil” is on view now through December 30th at the Lancaster MOAH during “The New Vanguard II”

Can you explain your creative approach when developing your installation/solo for the New Vanguard II?

In my most recent work, I present landscapes, some imagined, some inspired by our national parks, touched by man in various states. In many pieces I’ve enclosed the landscapes in a border of negative space by use of graphic shaped rectangular boxes mimicking a foundation, more specifically the borders we put on land; from national parks, city parks, backyards, gardens, to countries and states. By setting the scenes in these shapes it alters the seemingly limitless boundaries of nature and our behavior with it.

Within the pieces are moments that are personal to me, hidden within the trees and brush one will find oil rigs, fire pits, pills, rainbows, animals, palm trees, and other various images make the piece personal to my experiences and create a greater narrative when pieced together.

In 100 years from now, what do you think will be said about the New Contemporary art movement?

I think the current New Contemporary movement is thriving with so many different types of work and materials. It will be seen as a change in the relationship between artists and galleries, artists and other artists, galleries and other galleries, and collaborations. It will be a time of blurred lines between artists’ original work and people altering those works via social media and computer-generated imagery to create their own works. Technology is still relatively new in the art world, that seems to be shown a lot more in artists’ work as well.

What does it mean to you as an artist to have your work be shown at a museum?

To have a solo show in a museum has been one of my top goals since I was a young artist. I never thought it would happen at such an early stage of my career. I feel as though I am able to offer the world feelings they may not have felt before in a space that is made for the viewer to focus on the work and what it means rather than what it is or will be worth.

If your body of work had a signature cocktail or drink, what would it be made of and called?

It would have to be Oaky, strong, and dark. Maybe an Old Fashion. A dark, wood colored whiskey, with a cold cube in the center and it would need a small object, a stir stick in the shape of a nail to combat the natural taste and feel of the liquid.

Favorite part about Lancaster, or something you learned about Lancaster during your time there working on your install for the New Vanguard II?

It’s a surprisingly comfortable, easy drive from Los Angeles. It’s close enough for an easy afternoon and far enough that the museum is able to take risks on the exhibitions, have more fun. Also, the Blackbird Air Park is quite a treat.

There are a lot of amazing artists in the exhibition, and this question may be difficult to answer, but which artists in this show would you want to collaborate with on or steal an artsy secret/technique from that you want to use too?

I’m not much of a freehand painter, I’m meticulous and detailed and on quite a small scale compared to some other artists. I’d like to collaborate with one of the mural, graffiti artists, maybe Jeff Soto. Not only did we graduate Art Center within a couple of years together I’ve always had a connection to the work, the plants and weathered look in some of his work. I notice Soto has a few larger works, and murals, so the grand scale of his work would push my comfort level.

Can you explain your creative approach when developing your installation/solo for the New Vanguard II?

In developing my first solo museum installation, “Suzy Is A Surf Rocker”, I wanted to be very thoughtful and focused with my imagery. I began simply drawing sketches and writing down ideas, as well as collecting objects and ephemera to fill the large amount of wall space I was given. When I had narrowed down the ideas into a definitive, cohesive direction began the process of time management in my studio preparing all of the paintings, objects, photographs, and support pieces. Once I had begun the installation process at the museum the fun really started, but strategic editing had to also take place during the process. I always bring way more of everything than I need for a large-scale installation, and this was no exception! Finally, building what I had envisioned in my mind for months on the MOAH walls was an incredible…and at times exhausting…experience.

In 100 years from now, what do you think will be said about the New Contemporary art movement?

100 years from now I believe what will be said about our movement will be that it has been the most all-encompassing, inclusive movement in history. This movement has the most diverse styles, disciplines, genders, ethnicities, geography, exhibition venues…the list of inclusion goes on and on! The New Contemporary Movement is the first to have grown up during the internet age…giving an instant platform to artists of all kinds worldwide. This kind of exposure has shone a bright light on artists and styles that would have never seen a glimmer in the past gallery/museum pantheon. This exhibition is a shining example of that fact!

What does it mean to you as an artist to have your work be shown at a museum?

Having my work…and our movement…shown at museums is the realization that all of the hard work of the artists, gallerists, collectors, and fans is being accepted at a whole other level now. Although, it still means almost as much to me to show my work in a local gallery, coffee house, warehouse pop-up, or anywhere that supports current and up-and-coming artists. The wide variety of venues available to new artists has had a huge impact on why The New Contemporary Movement has grown to museum levels.

If your body of work had a signature cocktail or drink, what would it be made of and called?

Oh man!!! I suppose it would have to be some kind of kitschy tropical drink with lots of rum and fruit juice…garnished with pineapple chunks, flowers and a tiny umbrella…and would probably be called “skibs kula’i wai”…loosely translated as “skibs knockout juice”…HA!

Favorite part about Lancaster, or something you learned about Lancaster during your time there working on your install for the New Vanguard II?

Oh, this one is easy…favorite for sure was the people! Not just the people who work in the museum…who were all amazing. The people in the shops, restaurants, bars…everyone was extremely nice and excited to see and meet us while we were out and about in their city.

There are a lot of amazing artists in the exhibition, and this question may be difficult to answer, but which artists in this show would you want to collaborate with on or steal an artsy secret/technique from that you want to use too?

Geez, come on!!!! I guess if I had to narrow down that insane list of talent…I would want to do a collab with Chris Konecki. I think his 3D, mixed media, sculptures, and ambiguously vintage imagery would mix well with my similar aesthetic. I would want to steal some of Jaune’s stenciling techniques…the details and accuracy he creates with that hard edge technique are incredible

This past week some seriously talented artists have descended upon the Antelope Valley for Pow! Wow! AV; transforming blank walls into works of art all leading up to the opening of The Vanguard II at the Lancaster MOAH.

“The New Vanguard” opened at the Lancaster Museum of Art and History in tandem with POW! WOW! Antelope Valley to a vibrant reception on August 12th. The exhibition features over 55 artists from the new contemporary movement with a solo presentation by Scott Listfield in the Vault Gallery, and site-specific murals and installations created by Alex Yanes, Bumblebeelovesyou, Meggs, and Yoskay Yamamoto. We’re thrilled to have been welcomed into the walls of the MOAH and are excited for the future of the new contemporary movement. Please visit the Thinkspace Gallery website for more information on the exhibition and to view available works.

“The New Vanguard” and POW! WOW! Antelope Valley murals can be viewed now through October 30th.

The Lancaster Museum of Art and History is dedicated to strengthening awareness, enhancing accessibility and igniting the appreciation of art, history and culture in the Antelope Valley through dynamic exhibitions, innovative educational programs, creative community engagement and a vibrant collection that celebrates the richness of the region.

As part of this event, the museum collaborated with Thinkspace Gallery to present murals and installations inside by Alex Yanes, Bumblebeelovesyou, Meggs, and Yoskay Yamamoto (seen above)as well as The New Vanguard, a group exhibition in the South Gallery featuring works from the artists listed below. – Arrested Motion